Sugar-cane-crushing apparatus



Feb.l 17, 1931.

F. MAXWELL SUGAR CANE CRUSHING APPARATUS Filed June 23, 192'? 6SheetsSheejf, l

Feb 17, 1931- F. MAxwl-:LLY

l SUGQR CANE CRUSVHING APPARATUS F11-ed June 25, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 2Feb. 17, 1931.

6 Sheets-Sheet 3 F. MAXWELL SUGAR-CANE CHUSHING APPARATUS Filed June 25,1927 .lln-

Feb. 17, 1931.

F. MAXWELL 1,792,502

SUGAR. CANE CRUSHING APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1927 6 Sxlalee's-Shee 4 nx l A Feb. 17,Y 1931. F. MAXWELL SUGAR CANE CRUSHING APPARATUS FiledJune/23. 192'? 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 v gva/vento@ #QP Guam, 5

Feb. 17, 1931.

F. MAXWLL 1,792,502

SUGAR CANE CRUSHING APPARATUS Filed June 23, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 6Patented Feb. v17, 1931 UNETED STTESY FRANCIS MAXWELL, FWALLINGTQN,ENGLAND SUGARCANEGRUSHING APPARATUS Application filed .Tune23,'

rlfhisinvention relates to sugar cane apparatus, and more particularlyto that type of rotatableY shredding roller. acts upon the caneimmediapparatus wherein a rapidly ately after it has passed through apair ot cooperating crushing or pressing rolls, to

and whereby the use thereof will reduce the power consumption ofthecombineol mill to a minimum, while increasing the capacity thereof.vto .receive cane and extract juice therefrom to a maximum.V

Another object of this invention is to-provide in cane crushingapparatus, an improved form oft means. to cooperate with the shreddingroll thereof whereby the cane will be more eiciently shredded or.disintegrated.'

Another' object of this invention is to provide in cane crushingapparatus, a novel and improved Vform of bearing for.` adjustablysupporting the shredding roll thereof.

Still other objects of this invention are to provide in. canecrushingapparatus, novel and improved means to compress the shredded cane aftershredding the same and p before deliverythereof to a subsequent juiceexpressing mill, .novel means. todrive the compressingmeans, andimproved means for connecting the .shredding roll to the source` ofpower therefor.

To these. and other. ends, the invention consists in the novel-featuresand combinations of parts to be hereinafterV described.

u en

1927. serviai- No. 200,889;

Fig. 6A is a section online 6A-6A oi Fig. 6;

Fig. 7 is .an enlarged partial .sectioinshowing ya .portion .olacrusher'roll, the scraper pltlte therefor, and a portion of theshredding ro. 3

Fig.` 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. .7

Fig. 9 is a sectiononline 9-9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Fig. 7

Fig. 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 12 is a section on line -12-.12 of Fig. 3; 60

F`g..13 is an end elevation of a somewhat modiiied form of shreddingroll bearing;

Fig. 14 is asection on line 14.?14 of Fig. 13

Fig. 15 is a section on line 15-15 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 16 is a section on line 16-16 of Fig. 2, 55 911C t Fig. 17 is asection online 17-17 of Fig.16.

rlhe .cane crushing and pressing apparatus selectedV to illustrate thefeatures of this invention, comprisesA generally,` two pairs ofsimilarly Jormed frame members 10 and 11, one of which supports a pairof toothed cane crush-ing or pressingrolls -12 and 13, and a caneshredding roll le, and the other pair of frames supporting a set otjuice expressing rolls 15, 16 and 17. rlhe twopairs of frames areinterconnected by a chute 18, the bottom ot which is formed of a movingbelt-like `cane carrier 1.9, by which the cane is fed from Vone totheother. A cane chute 20 is provided 80 through which the cane is fedtoward and into thebite of the rolls 12and 13. Suitable andsimilar means(not shown) carries i the cane .from .the rolls 15 and 17, towardsubsequent mills when the same are required. The rolls 12 and .13 arerotatably mounted inthe framesl() and 11 and arranged therein 'in any ofa number of wellY known ways,

whereby pressure may be .applied therebetween.v Each of the rolls .12and 13 is pro- 90 videdV with peripheral vribs 21 which intermesh withcorresponding ribs upon the other roll. A plurality of substantiallylongitudinally extending grooves. 22, intersecting the .peripheral ribsv21I and forming teeth 23, 95

tended at one end and coupled to a source of power, such as an engine orelectric motor 160, through suitable reduction gearing 161, 162 and 163,whereby the rolls 12 and 13 may be rotated at a comparatively slow rateof speed.

A member 28, commonly termed a turn plate is provided and is suitablyarranged in cooperation with the bottom roll 13 to both clean the sameby ineans of teeth adapted to enter the spaces between the peripheralribs 21 thereof, and to provide a cane turning surface 29, which engagesthe cane passed between the rolls 12 and 13, and guides it upwardly awaytherefrom. lThe turn plate 28, in this instance, directs the pressed andcrushed cane toward the restricted space between the shredder roll 14and a member cooperating therewith. As the cane passes between the toproll 12 and the turn plate 28, and preferably while it is held tightlytherebetween in a compressed condition, the rapidly revolving shredderroll 14 combs it into fine shreds.

A. scraper plate adjustably supported between the frames 10 and 11 isprovided. The plate 30 is adapted to engage the roll 12 within thespaces between the peripheral ribs 21 thereof, by means of teeth 31,formed upon one of its edges. The toothed portion 32 of the plate isdisposed generally between the periphery of the shredder roll 14 and theperiphery of the roll 12, and presents a surface 33 to the teeth 34 ofthe shredder roll. The surface 33 in this instance, is provided with aplurality of spaced. apart ribs 35, formed by groovinfr the plate uponthis sur face. The ribs 35 extend transversely of the plate with respectto its length and also to the longitudinal axis of the shredder roll.

The scraper plate 30 is provided with a plate-like extension 36angularly disposed relatively thereto, and which is adjustably securedto one side of a supporting bar 37, by means of bolts 38 which passthrough openings 39 in the bar 37, and through elongated openings 4() inthe plate extension 36. A part 41 extending substantially at rightangles from the extension 36, is disposed along another side of the bar37, being bolted thereto by means of an elongated bolt 42. Adjustment ofthe plate 30 with respect to the peripheries of both the roll 12 and theroll 14 is permitted by this arrangement, so as to insure propercooperation therebetween.

rlhe bar 37 is provided with a trunnion 43 at each end. which isrotatably supported by a bearing block 44, secured to the frame 10 or 11adjacent thereto. An arm 45 is secured to each of the trunnions 43adjacent each of the hearing blocks 44, and extends generally upwardlyand outwardly from the adjacent frame 10 or 11. The outer end 46 of thearm 45 is engaged b v a coil spring 47 secured on the upper end of a rod48, pivoted at its lower end to the adjacent frame 10 or 11, as at 49.r1he spring 47 acts upon the arm 45 to retain the scraper plate 30resiliently in close scraping engagement with the roll 12. Nutsthreadingly engaging the upper end of the rod 48, permit regulation ofthe tension of the spring 47. A lug 51 is provided upon each arm 45 andis so disposed thereon that it is engageable by an end of an adjustablestop screw 52. The screw 52 is threaded through an end of a stud shaft53, rigidly mounted in a bracket 54, secured upon the adjacent frames 10or 11. The stop screw 52 prevents the scraper plate 30 moving away fromthe roll 12 to suchv an extent that the teeth 34 of the shredding roll14 will strike or engage the same during the operation thereof.

The ends 55 of the shredding roll shaft 56 are journalled in bearingsdisposed in an opening 57 provided in each of the frames 10 and 11, theopening 57, in this instance, being one previously provided and adaptedto receive the bearing of a roll previously arranged to cooperate withrolls 12 and 13 to form a three roll mill.. One of the shaft ends 55extends beyond the bearing at one side of the unit and is secured to aflange coupling i La,

part 53. rlhe flange coupling part 58 is Secured to the flange portionof a sleeve 59,

which is provided with a plurality of depending lugs 60 upon theinterior periphery thereof. A coupling member 61 secured upon the end ofan extension shaft 62 is provided with lugs 63 upon its periphery, whichintermesh with the lugs 60 of the sleeve 59. Rotatable members 64 aredisposed between the opposing side surfaces of the lugs 60 and 63 insuitable races formed therein, and form interdriving means between theshaft 62 and the shaft end This arrangement permits angular misalignmentof one shaft with respect to the other.

A similar arrangement is provided between the other1 end of the shaft 62and shaft 65 of an electric motor 66, there being a hub member 67secured to shaft 62 which has lugs 63 upon its periphery that aredisposed between lugs 69 formed upon the interior periphery of a sleevemember 70. The sleeve 70 is provided with a iiange 71. which is boltedto a flange coupling part 72, secured to the motor shaft 65. Rotatablemembers 73 are interposed between the lugs 68 and 69 to forminterdriving means therebetween. Angular misalignment between shafts 62and is permitted by this coupling arrange` ment. and both angular'misalignment and parallel misalignment is permitted between the motorshaft 65 and the roll shaft 56. whereby substantially all. vibration ispre-A vented and strains due therefrom are not present when the roll 14is in operation. The motor 66 is adapted to drive the roll 14 at acomparatively high rate of speed and therefore, smoothness of operationis especially essential.

Each of the shredding roll shaft bearings .comprises a block 711provided with a cap-75.

The block 7 4 is provided with apair of guiding tongues 76, whichstraddle respectively a part of the adjacent frame 10 or 11 and a partoi a cap piece 77, extending across the opening 57 and bolted to theadjacent frame. The blocks 711, by this arrangement, areslidable withrespect to the frame upon which each is mounted, the arrangement beingsuch as to permit movement of the bearing with the roll shaft 56 androll 111 toward andyaway from the cooperating surface 33 of the scraperplate 30, and toward and away from the upper roll 12; The' direction ofmovement ot' the roll 14:, due to thecooperation-of the movable bearingblock Y74 with the adjacent trame 10 or 11, is substantially along theline at right angles to the surface 33.

Thebe'aring block 711 is provided with a pair of recesses 7 8' directedgenerally downwardly and parallel with the guides 76. A coil spring 79is inserted in each ot therecesses 78 lin engagement with the block 74Cat one end, and extends 'downwardly/beyond the same into engagement withVa surface 81 of a wedge member 80 at-the other end. The surface 81 issubstantially in a plane at right angles to the direction of movement ofthe block 74- and parallel-with the surface 33 of the scraper bar 30.The base 82 of the'wedge 80 is provided with a pair of ears 83, onedisposed on eitherV side 'of the adjacent frame 10 or 11, to guide thewedge in its movements thereon. IThe wedgeSO is connected to the aloclr74 by means of Vstudbolts 84, one at either end thereof. The bolts 84:at one end thereof are threaded into the block-711. it the other end,these ybolt-s pass through elongated openings 85 provided infthe wedge80, and are engaged by a nut 86. A sheet of steel or other hardenedmaterial 87 is dispose-dbstween the ends of the springs 79 and thewedgeSO, to prevent vundue wear thereon. The upright surface 88 of thewedge 80 is disposed in position to be envagedby an end ot an adjustingscrewV 89,k which is threaded through the cap piece 77. A detachableboss 910 is secured upon ,the internal snr-face of the opening 57, andis disposed thereon in position to be engaged by lthe bearing cap` 75 tolimit thef movement oit the shredding' roll bearing toward the seraL erplate 30 or roll 12.

ln the form of bearingaboue described, the block 74 with its cap 75,springs 79, and wedge 80, may be assembled as a unitbefore being placedinto the opening 57 of the trame. By means ot the vbolts `811, the`tension on the spring 79 may be adjusted beoreinse-rting this bearingunit ink place. The wedge 80, after the unit is in place within theopening 57 and the cap piece 77 bolted to the trame, may be movedinwardly to increase the ten- 'ment with respect to the frame.

sion of spring 79, or released outwardly thereby to decrease the same bymeans ot the adjusting screw 89;

ln the' form oi' bearings shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15, theopening 100in the frames 10 and 11, is provided with a cap piece 101. bearing block102 is provided for the shredding roll shaft. The block 102 is sl'dablein the opening to carry the shrec of roll toward and away Vfrom thecooperating scraper plate, as in the form described above. The block 102is 'slidably mounted between guideways 103 and 104 formed in a bearingblock supporting bracket 105. rlhe bracket 105 isprovided-with; a pairof downwardly 'direc-ted guide ears 106, one of which is disposed oneither side ol the adjacent trame 10 or 11, andy depends along this sideto` guide the bracket and retainit against lateral move- The bracket 105rests on the interiorsurface Vof' the lower wall or" the opening 100.`fit another point the bracket 105is provided witha pair f lugs 107, thatstraddle the cap piece 101 and are bolted thereto. A screw 108 projectsupwardly from-the bracket-105 and engages the upper wall of the opening100. A spacing block 109 is disposed between the bracket 105 and therear wall of the opening 100. in opening 110 is providedin the bracket105, which permits the `free passage therethrough of a coiled spring111; A. limiting stop member 112 is disposed and secured tothe interiorwall of the opening 100 in proper position to engage the bloclr 102l andprevent its inward movement beyond a predetermined amount. `The spring111 passing through the opening 110, engages the-block. `102 at one ondand abuts or restsupon a wed-ge member 118 at the other end. rlhe'base113a of the wedge member is provided with a pair ofdepending ears 11a;which straddle the frame. member to prevent lateral displacement,thereof with respect to the trame. The ears 114- act as guides for 'themember 113, which is slidably mounted upon the lower wall ot the openingY 100. Adjustingscrews 115 threaded into the upright. surface V116 otthe wedge, engage against the cap piece 101. Bymanipulation ot thescrews 1,15, the wedge 113 may be moved inwardly or released outwardlyto varythe tension on the spr-mg 111.

Sugar-cane or the like is passed between Vthe rolls 12 and 13, turnedbythe turn-plate 28, and directed into the restricted space between thescraper plate 30 and the shredding roll lll, and while in compressedcondition and under a restraining Vaction due to being held between theroll 13 and plate 28, it is substantially thoroughly shredded anddisintegrated. The shreddedcane emerges :trom-between the roll 14- andplate-30 in comparatively ilu-tty mass of vfinely; divided libresintermiXe-d with cane juice. This mass expands and requires considerablespace.

Because of the nature of this mass, it is difficult for a subsequent setof rolls, such as rolls 15, 16 and 17, to engage a suiiicient quantitythereof and to pass it therethrough while pressing it as rapidly as itis being shredded by the shredding roll. t is advisable, therefore, toprovide means to compress or mat this mass into a more or less denseblanket of uniform thickness throughout, which will be readily receivedin the bite of the rolls 15 and 16.

F or the above purposes, a roller 120 vof such structure as to be ofsufficient weight, is provided. The roller 120 is mounted upon a shaft121, which is journaled in a bearing member 122 at each end thereof. Thebearing members 122 are each provided with an outwardly extending lug123, which is provided with a threaded opening 124. A rod or pipe 125threaded at each end is engaged in the opening 124 of each member 122 bycooperation of the threads of each. The other end of the part 125threadingly engages a member 126, within a threaded opening 127,

. in a lug portion 128 thereof. A member 126 is mounted upon each of thestud shafts 53, supported in each ofthe brackets 54. One of the studshafts 53 has a sprocket 129 rotatably mounted thereon, which isdrivingiy connected by means of a chain 130 with a sprocket 131 securedto shaft 121. The sprocket 129 is also drivingly connected to a sprocket132, secured in this instance upon the end of shaft 24 of roll 12. Theweight of the roller 120 is suificient to press the shredded cane into amore or less dense and uniform mat or blanket. Being power driven at acomparatively slow rate of speed, but slightly faster than the rolls 12and 13, the roller 120 will, while pressing the cane, tend to feed itaway from the shredder roll 14, thereby assisting the carrier means 19to feed the cane toward the rolls 15 and 16.

Another pressing or feeding roller 135 is provided disposed adjacent therolls 15 and 16. The roller 135 is secured to a shaft 136, which isrotatably mounted in bearing members 137, one at either end of theroller and one at an extending end 138 of this shaft. A sprocket wheel139 is secured to the outer end of the shaft portion 138. Rods or pipes140 are threadingly engaged at one end of each in lugs 141, formed uponthe bearing members 137. The other ends of the pipes or rods 140 aresimilarly engaged in lugs 142 formed on sleeve members 143, 144 and 145.The sleeve members 144 and 145 are each secured to the end of a studshaft 146 and 14.7 respectively, which are rotatably mounted in brackets148 and 149 respectively. The brackets 148 and 149 are respectivelymount-- ed upon frames and 11. The sleeve member 143 is loosely mountedupon the shaft 146. A sprocket wheel 150 is rotatably mounted upon theshaft 146. A. sprocket wheel 150 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 146and is drivingly connected to the sprocket wheel 139 by a chain 151. Thesprocket 150 is also drivingly connected to a sprocket 152 by a chain153. The sprocket wheel 152 is secured to the shaft of the roll andobtains power and movement therefrom, The roller 135 while pressing thecane mat or blanket to further condense the same, also acts incooperation with the car rier 19 to force the shredded cane between thebite of the rolls 15 and 16. Due to the fact, that this roller isrotating slightly faster than the rolls 15 and 16, a crowding effect isproduced between it and them, whereby the mat or blanket of cane isslightly increased in thickness at this point. rlhis action insures thatthe rolls 15 and 16 receive their capacity amount of cane so that thedelivery of cane from the shredding roll will not be in excess of thatreceived and pressed by the rolls 15, 16 and 17. In this manner, acontinuous and uniform iiow of cane will at all times be moving throughthe cane crushing or pressing apparatus.

rlihe arrangement whereby the rollers 120 and 135 are swingably mountedupon the stud shafts 53 on the one end, and 146 and 147 on the other,and with respect to the carrier 19, permits them to freely ride upon thetop of the moving mass of cane thereon. This freedom of movement permitsthe rollers 120 and 135 to slightly rock or swing upwardly when asomewhat larger quantity of cane is passing, and due to the pressurethereon to evenly distribute it across the carrier 19. This insures thatthe cane entering the bite of the rolls 15 and 16 will be in the form ofa blanket or mat of uniform thickness, across the face of the same. Bythis arrangement, any unevenness or thickness will be ironed out whenthey occur intermediate the ends of either roll 120 or 135 while passingbeneath the same.

The operation of the apparatus above described is generally as follows,the detail operation of the various mechanisms having been describedabove in connection with the structural description thereof. Sugar caneor the like, which has preferably been subjected to a preliminarycrushing operation in suitable preliminary crushing rolls (not shown),is directed down chute to the rolls 12 and 13, between which it passesand is crushed, pressed and partially disintegrated. The crushed cane isturned by the turn plate 28 and directed toward the shredding roll 14and the scraper plate 30, passing between the grooved surface 33 and theteeth 34 of the plate and roll respectively. At this point in its travelthe cane is attacked by the teeth of the roll 14 which thoroughly shredsand further disintegrates the cane and thereby opens up substantiallyall of the sugar juice cells. Preferably this action takes place whilethe cane is still held between the roll 13 and the plate 28. Theshredded cane is then fed to the first set of juice expressing rolls 15,16 and 17 after being compressed into a mat or blanket of uniformthickness in turn by the rollers 120 and 135, and forced into the biteof the rolls 15 and 16 by the cooperating action between the roller 135and the carrier 19. The rolls 15, 16 and 17 are preferably provided withfairly fine annular ribs as usual in sugar mill practice. The canepassing through the S-roller mill consisting of the rolls 15, 16 and 17,is pressed under heavy pressure for the extraction of juice, after whichit is usually fed to a plurality of subsequent successive sets of juiceexpressing rolls (not shown) in which the compression and juiceextraction are continued.

rlhe combined effect of rolls 12 and 13 and the shredding roll andgrooved scraper plate by the following sets of rolls of the tandem.

Thus, a given number of pressing rollers can, where the shredding deviceis used, do more effective juice expressing than a tandem of the same orapproximately the same number of rolls in connection with which a.shredder is not employed. The rollers 120 and 135 acting incooperationwith rolls 15, 16 and 17 provide a uniform and evenlydistributed inat or blanket of cane for subsequent juiceexpressingoperations.

Preferably, the speed of rotation of the rolls 12 and 13 is from 2 to 4R. P. M. whereby a surface speed of from substantially 18 to 36 feet perminute is obtained. The shredder roll 14 is preferably given a speed offrom 200 to 500 R. l?. M., whereby a surface speed of from substantially1500 to 3200 feet per minute is obtained.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of myvinvention, it is to be understood that the same is not limited theretoin all of the details shown, as many modifications and variationsthereof are possible, which will lie within the spirit of the inventionand the scope of thev appended claims.

`What I claim is:

1. A scraper plate for cane crushing apparatus having a pressure rolland a shredding roll, said plate having teeth along an edge thereof,said teeth being adapted to enter grooves in the pressure roll disposedat one side of said plate, and a plurality of ribs upon the side of saidplate opposite the pressure roll, said ribs being adapted to coact withthe shredding roll to shred cane passed therebetween, said ribs beingrradially beyond the periphery of said shredding roll.

2. A scraper plate for cane crushing ap- Li para-.tus having a pressureroll and a shred-

